HIGH RELIABILITY AND LOW FRICTION （高可靠性和低摩擦）.pdf

Mini-project report HIGH RELIABILITY AND LOW FRICTION BEARINGS FOR WIND TURBINES Emamode A Ubogu –dtp10eu@shef.ac.uk Date: 11/02/2010 Abstract - The need for affordable and reliable wind turbines is now very important as the world shifts its energy focus to renewable sources. Wind turbine failure statistics show that most of the operating downtime is bearing related. This project therefore, looked at the various bearing options available to the different bearing components of a wind turbine. 1. INTRODUCTION basic bearing life calculation was the ultimate deciding The bearings are a vital part of wind turbines. They have factor on which comparisons were made for the to operate continuously under varying load and different bearings within the turbine. frequently intermittent lubrication. Offshore wind farms 3. WIND TURBINE ARCHITECTURE are also difficult to maintain and re-lubrication is Fig.2 shows the typical structure of a modular wind expensive. Currently very large rolling element bearings turbine. It consists of three main parts, the tower, a are used. There have been several catastrophic failures three bladed rotor and the nacelle. Bearings, which are caused by bearing failures which has resulted in huge machine components that allow